...it's...finally...FINISHED! WOHOOO! Celebration time, come on! Wow...this is like, the first time that I have ever finished a fanfic totally. I am proud of myself. Thanks to all my reviewers for sticking with me through out this thing, and still reviewing. I got another St. Seiya fanfic to start working on, so look for it in the St. Seiya....erm....genre, I guess is what you'd call it. Thanks again, guys!! I love you!
Just for old times sake, Sailor Moon and Saint Seiya are property of Naoko Takeuchi and Masami Kurumada respectively. Thank you.
Haruka was sitting still, which was an unusual occurrence in itself. Haruka was sitting still, and letting her cigarette dangle from her fingertips, the smoke floating up to twist and blur against the stars. Her leg was drawn up so that she could rest her chin on it, the other tapping the ground in a rhythm that only she knew. A breeze picked up, stirring a few strands of corn silk hair, and for once she felt perfectly relaxed.
"The wind is at ease." Michiru sat next to her, their fingers interlaced. Haruka savored the touch of her silky hair against her cheek.
"Peace," Haruka replied, glad in knowing this. Instead of hot and smothering, the summer evening was balmy but comfortable.
"And the water laps peacefully on the shore." Her voice, sweet as silver bells, rang in the still night air, easily floating up to the heavens to join the twinkling stars.
"Change...it will not happen for quite some time. We would do well to relax now." Michiru's contented silence agreed with Haruka. Both of them were well versed in the ways of the nature, and how shifts in the natural cycle could prophesize an event. Haruka glanced sideways at Michiru, and smiled.
"Well...we can't say we did it, this time," she said, squeezing Michiru's fingers. She shook her head in amusement.
"No, we can't. We were witnesses to a series of terrible events...but we were not the solution."
"No. Three extraordinary creatures were the heroes of this story."
"Hello, Setsuna. Long time, no see," Haruka greeted her without turning her head. Michiru turned around and smiled cheerfully at the guardian of time.
"What's going to happen to them?" Setsuna smiled a bit herself, and looked out over the lake.
"They will be reborn, and receive souls of their own. They did not die the empty shells that they thought they were, however."
"Oh, really?" Haruka turned to see Setsuna. "What were they, then?" Setsuna shrugged, and hugged her arms.
"They were...they were different, yes, but also a little human. They knew suffering and they knew longing. And they knew bravery. And they will be rewarded for their sacrifices."
"That's nice to hear," Michiru commented. "I'm glad that they'll get their second chance after all." Setsuna nodded.
"Please tell the girls..." a mischievous smile alighted on her aloof features. "And the guys. I see Minako has taken up a relationship with the Cygnus saint?" Michiru grinned, and Haruka outright chuckled; extremely amusing it was to see Hyoga and Minako together. Such a reclusive young man with an airhead like Minako.
"I rather like his nickname for her...Kihou." Setsuna rested both her hands on their shoulders. "Enjoy your period of rest. You never know when it may be interrupted."
"What...what do you mean, interrupted?!" Haruka demanded, twisting around. However, the time angel was gone. They sat silently for a moment.
"I think I am going to go book a flight to Hawaii now." Michiru nodded.
"I'll go tell Hotaru."
"I'll do it quickly so we can get out of here as soon as possible."
"Where did you put those leis from that silly party Minako insisted on having?"
"Threw 'em out. What did you think I did with them?!"
"Oh...well...never mind."
"On second thought, I don't want to know."
FIN